Summer of Cats

We seemed to explode with cats this summer - I didn't have time to blog each sit, so here we are, Cat Heaven.

Cleo

Dillon

Daisy

Poppy

Dora

Fliss (Felicity)

Foxy

Bella

Lola

Molly

Chips

These were my summer cats - September we're still busy with a lot of cat care (11 cats to look after this month so far), but enjoy these cuties for now!

Current Vacancies

Sue has joined the team and all the dogs are falling in love with her, as she is falling in love with them. I'm a bit jealous.

Sue has space for ONE adult dog at lunchtime and ONE adult dog at breakfast.
[Lunchtime space only available Mondays and Thursdays]

LUNCHTIME DOG WALKS

Sue covers Brentwood, Shenfield, Warley, Ingrave & Hutton at luncthime, and is looking for that special dog to join a small group of dogs walking in Brentwood's beautiful open spaces, grassland, parks, woodland, ponds and wetlands. These areas are used to the full to give your dog physical exercise and allow them to express their natural breed behaviours in a safe environment, so they return home relaxed and happy.

BREAKFAST DOG WALKS

Early morning walks are ideal for busy parents - your dog will be out of the house at the time you may be trying to get children ready for school and this is one less thing for you to worry about.

Dogs are collected from 8.15am, and returned home around 90 minutes later, tired and ready to sleep while you get on with your busy day. Currently this service runs in Shenfield (collection around 8am), but we are able to open it to other areas including Hutton, Brentwood, Pilgrims Hatch and Kelvedon Hatch at the slightly later time. I (Linda) cover Shenfield & Hutton, and Sue covers Pilgrims Hatch, Kelvedon Hatch, Brentwood & Warley. Other areas may be available, please ask.

If you are interested in part-time, occasional or ad hoc walks at any time of day, these are available but spaces are filling up fast.

More information is on my Dog Walking website.

CAT SITTING (& other pets)

One or two visits per day, to feed, clear litter trays, let your cats in or out, cuddes, love, anything you require.

Spaces are available through July. August is filling up fast, so please do book early to be sure we can cover your holidays.

PUPPY CARE

My puppy services are very popular, so if you are waiting for a puppy to be old enough to bring home, or looking for a puppy, please do get in touch as early as you can.

All puppy care is covered by Linda.

Puppies are accepted between 8 weeks and 6 months old. They get one or two half hour visits per day when they get my undivided attention. Once they are fully vaccinated I take them out for short walks, feed where necessary, clear up any mess, and play educational games designed to give your puppy the skills needed for life with people. Puppy walks are for roughly five minutes per month of life, so start at five minutes per visit, working up to the full half hour just before puppy moves to my lunchtime group walks.

If you are at home but are interested in the educational games I can still visit, or teach you the games to play.

Spaces are linited so are taken very quickly - typically within two weeks of becoming available. I only have one space on average every three to four months, so if you are waiting for your puppy to be old enough to bring home and want me to visit, a non-refundable first week's deposit will hold the space for up to one month.

Puppy Training and Skills for Life spaces also available.

Current Vacancies

Dogs



I have no spaces for regular dog walks until July. I can still take dogs who only want the occasional walk, once a week on Thursday or Friday, and dogs who need walking for a week or so while their main owners are on holiday.

Thanks for all your help. Bubbles has really come on leaps and bounds in just the few weeks you've had her!
Rebecca H., Cockerpoo


I am fully booked for boarding for school holidays until October half term. Out of school holiday time, space is available from May. Early July is still available, but I have no spaces in August at all.

I would recommend Linda to anybody who is looking for a holiday for their hounds. Peanut and Ali have just spent a week in the very capable hands of Linda and I think they enjoyed the lovely peace and quiet of her house (compared to mine).
Mary K., Greyhounds

Puppies



No puppy spaces for home visits until June.

Puppy socialising - space for one or two puppies up to 4 months old.

Thank you for all you have done. When I need to board him I will certainly be calling you.
Francis W., Jack Russell Terrier puppy


Cats



No more spaces for cat sitting at Easter, plenty of spaces the rest of the year!

Linda had very positive references and was very trustworthy whilst I was on holiday. My cat Min is very independent and it was important that she was able to stay in the environment she knows whilst having freedom outdoors when she wanted it. Linda was flexible to make this possible and on my return my cat was very healthy and happy.
Marianne F., Min

Rocky & Ruby

Rocky & Ruby are gorgeous cats, very affectionate and playful. I'm taking care of them while Mum & dad are on holiday.

I can't have cats of my own because of the dogs, so I really enjoy feeding other people's! Also some days the peace and quiet (purring excepted) is very welcome at the end of a long, noisy, doggy day!

Cat on a Mildly Warmed Up Slate Roof

I must stress this is not a cat I am looking after! This is a neighbourhood cat in my lovely town of Brentwood - where the biggest risk of injury (to humans or pets) comes from traffic. I watched it jump from the balcony to the gutter, walk up the front of the roof and now you see it disappearing over the other side.

As a cat sitter I do my best to encourage cat owners to keep their cats in while they are away. I don't like turning up at an empty house, putting food down, then leaving without making sure the cat I am supposed to be looking after is safe and sound. Some owners are insistent their cats stay out, normally due to the 'yuk' factor of the 'disgusting' litter tray.

I appreciate poo isn't everyone's cup of tea, but it's me who has to deal with it, not the owner, and I can clear it away and air the house before you get home, so please, if you use a cat sitter, consider keeping your cat home safe. If you get a reputable sitter they will not just turn up, feed, watch TV and leave, they will give your cat a proper work out!

Out of town bookings

I've had a request to look after a couple of cats over Christmas/New Year. Obviously I can't have them in the house, so have to travel to the cats, and they are in another town, so an hour's travel per visit.

After a couple of hours fiddling with a spreadsheet (not my strong point!) I've worked out that it is going to cost the customer more for my travel (bearing in mind there is a chance of snow and definitely will be lots of frost!) than to actually look after the cats.

I've done some fiddling and can get the cost down a decent amount if I visit once a day instead of twice, but I can't help but think this will be the one that got away.